System of supervision for the apparatus of a telephone or other system.



A. E. KEITH.

SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION FOR THE APPARATUS OF A TELEPHONE OR OTHER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1901.

1 1 52,385. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. E. KEITH.

SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION FOR THE APPARATUS OF A TELEPHONE OR OTHER SYSTEM.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAYG. 1901.

1 1 52,385. Patented Aug". 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER E. KEITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO FIRST TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION FOR THE APPARATUS OF A TELEPHONE OR OTHER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed May 6, 1907. Serial No. 372,006.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER E. KEITH. a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Systems of Supervision for the Apparatus of a Telephone or other System, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic telephone exchange systems in which the automatic switches, such as selectors or connectors or other suitable switches, are arranged in groups or sections at the exchange or central station.

It also relates to telephone exchange systems of this character in which the said automatic switches are provided with heatcoils or thermostatic switching devices for automatically closing circuits through visual signals whenever one or more of the electromagnets of the switches remain energized too long, or whenever one or more of such magnets is subjected to an abnormally strong current.

Generally stated the object of my invention is the provision of an improved arrangement for enabling the attendant to more readily locate heat-coils or thermostatic switches that have been operated by abnormally strong currents, or by an improperly continued flow of current through any of the electromagnets of the different switches.

Special objects of my invention are the provision of an arrangement involving lamps controlled by the heat-coils or thermostatic devices on the automatic switches, and so disposed in the exchange or central station that two lamps are always lighted each time a heat-coil or thermostatic switch is operated, one lamp for indicating the row in one direction in which the operated heatcoils or thermostatic devices in the particular level or shelf of that division in which the operated heat-coil or thermostatic switch 1s found, as well as to all heat-coils or thermostatic switches in the same level of the corresponding sections or divisions of the different parallel rows; and the provision of certain details and features of improvement and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and serviceability of the arrangement by which a comparatively few number of lamps are employed in supervising the heat-coils or thermostatic switches of a telephone exchange system of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends,

my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 1s a diagram of a section of a telephone system, showing a series of groups of automatic switches in connection with which my invention is illustrated. The switches in the exchange are represented by the circles, and they are so arranged that the groups are in rows, each group being a member of two rows which are at right-angles to each other. Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically the arrangement of the switches in one group.

As shown in Fig. 1, the switches are divided into vertical rows A, B and C. Furthermore, these switches are divided into horizontal rows D, E, F and G. It will be apparent that the group a, for example, falls within the vertical row A and within the horizontal row E, and the group a within the vertical row B and the horizontal row E, and so on. The switches 2 (as shown in Fig. 1, group a are supplied with battery current through the heat-coils, which may be of any suitable design, the

-*ones here shown comprising a star Wheel 3 are arranged on shelves, such as the shelves 6, c, d, e, f and 9, so that it becomes necessary in locating the heat coil not only to locatethe group a (if the trouble is in that group), but also to locate the shelf f, in

which is located the switch or heat coil in trouble.

It will be noticed, more particularly in Fig. 1, that the vertical rows are marked by the lamps 13, 14, 15, etc., while the horizontal rows are marked by the lamps 23, 12, 34,

etc. It will be noticed, furthermore, by referring to Fig. 2, that each shelf 6, c, d, e, f

and g, is marked by the lamps 7 8, 9, 10, 11

15 and 12. It is to be noted, furthermore, that these lamps 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 not only indicate the particular shelf, but they indi' cate the horizontal rows as well. For example, the lamp 12 of group 0. indicates the shelf g in the vertical row A; it also indi cates that the shelf 9 is in the horizontal row E. The other lamps serve in a similar way. The object of this arrangement will become apparent in the description which follows: With this arrangement, if the heat coil of the switch 16 at the group a (Fig. 2)

is blown or o erated by abnormal current the springs 14 and 18 come into contact,

and they close a circuit which comprises the lamp 12 and the lam 13. This circuit extends from ground 1 to the conductor 19,

thence through the lamp 13 to the conductor 20 through the springs 18 and 17, conductor 21 and lamp 12 to the battery lead 22,

thence through battery B to ground G The displav of the lamp 13 indicates to the attendant that a heat coil in some one of the groups in the row is in trouble, while the lamp 12 will further indicate to him that 4 the group in which the heat coil is located lies in the horizontal row E, thus locating the group (a. The lamp 12, however, indicates still further that the trouble is in the shelf 9 (Fig. 2), and the attendant at once and by a. glance may locate the heat coil 16 by noting that the springs are out of normal. The attendant will then look into the matter and if possible restore the heat coil and if not investigate the trouble. It will 0 be evident that if the heat coil had been in the shelf f (Fig. 2) the lamps 13 and 11 would have lighted in series, the lamp 11 indicating not only the horizontal row E, but also the shelf f. It will be evident that with this arrangement, whenever any heat coil is blown at least two lamps will be caused to light up, one indicating the horizontal row and the other the vertical row, at the intersection of which rows will in- 69 variably be found the group in which the heat coil is located. In any event there will always be found one of the lamps 13, 14, 15, and so on, burning in series with one of the lamps similar to 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 (Fig. 2) allotted to one of the various groups of the row or column A, as shown in Fig. 1. These lam s 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 not only indicate tlie shelf or subgroup of the groups in the column A, but also indicate the shelves in the columns B, C, etc. Therefore, if the heatcoil 24 in the top shelf of the group a blows, the lamp 15 will then burn in series with the lamp 12, through the springs 27 and 28. In this case the lamp 15 will indicate the row or column C, and the lamp 12 will indicate the row or column E, and also the shelf g of the group c An example of how the attendant may locate the heat coil is as follows: The attendant notices the display of the lamp 15 of the row or column C (Fig. 1). This will indicate to him that some group in that column contains a switch in trouble. He will then glance down the column A for a corresponding lamp and find that the lamp 12 is also burning. Since the lamp 12 is allotted to the row E, the attendant then knows that the operated heat coil lies in a group that is common to the rows C and E. This will indicate to him that the trouble is with the group (1 and that it is located in the top portion, in which portion it will be a comparatively easy matter to locate the switch, as alread explained. By ins ction he will find, or example, that it is t e coil 24 that is giving trouble. The circuit through which the signal lamps 15 and 12 receive their current extends from ground G to the conductor 19, through the lamp 15 to the conductor 25, thence by way 0 the conductor 26 and the springs 27 and 28 to the conductor 29, thence through the lamp 1% to the battery lead 22 and to battery B. It will be noticed that in each group all s rings 27 are connected in multi le. In t e group o for example, in the co umn or row C, this multiple set is connected with the conductors 25, and through the lamp 15 to the grounded terminal of battery B The same is true of the group a and all other groups in this column. In the column or row B t e multiple springs are connected through the lamp 14 to the grounded terminal of battery, and in the column A through the lam 13. Each of these groups has another mu tiple set of springs, one of which springs in the group a. is the spring 28. These springs, by the conductor 29, are connected through the lamp 12 to the non-grounded terminal of battery B The similar springs of the group a are also connected to the conductor 29, and through the lamp 12 to the battery, and the same is true of the corresponding springs of the group (1. Through the lamp 12 these groups are, it will be noted, allotted to the horizontal row E. The corresponding springs of the groups of the row D are likewise connected in multiple, but reach battery B through the lamp 23; while the springs of the groups of the horizontal row F connect with said battery through the lamp 34, and so on through the various horizontal rows.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I employ one set of lamps each lamp of which set is common to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic devices in one of the rows of sections or divisions into which the automatic telephone exchange apparatus is divided. For example, the lamp 1 1 is common to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic switches in the row B, while the lamps 13 and 15 are each employed in a similar manner in supervising the heat-coils or thermostatic switches of the parallel rows A and (J, as illustrated. It will be seen, however, that I employ another set of lamps each of which is common to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic switches of a certain level in a particular section or division of any row, as well as to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic devices in the same level of the corresponding sections or divisions of the other or parallel rows. The lamp 12, for example, is common to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic devices in the level or shelf 9 of the section or division at in the row A, and is also common to all of the heat-coils or thermostatic switches in the same level of the sections or divisions a and a of the parallel rows B and C, as illustrated. In this Way the rows A, B and C have but one lamp allotted to each row, whereas the rightangle rows D, E, F and G have a plurality of lamps allotted to each row, one lam for each level in the entire row. With suc arrangement the rows running in one direction have one lamp apiece, whereas the rows which extend at right-angles to the rows A, B and C each have a plurality of lamps allotted thereto. It is evident that any particular section or division of the exchange is a member of two rows, which rows extend at right-angles to each other. The section or division (1, for example, is a member of the row A, and also of the row E, and this is true of every other section or division of the exchange or central station apparatus. Consequently, two lamps are lighted each time a heat-coil or thermostatic switch is operated, one lamp indicating the row in one direction in which the operated heat-coil or thermostatic switch will be found, and the other lamp indicating not only the rightangle row in which such operated heat-coil or thermostatic switch will be found, but also the particular level or shelf in which the same will be found. In this Way the supervision of the heat-coils or thermostatic switches through the medium of lamps is greatly simplified and facilitated, and only a comparatively small number of lamps is necessary.

The automatic switches herein disclosed, and in connection with which my invention is employed, may be of the general character disclosed in United States Letters Patent Nos. 815,176 and 815,321, granted March 13, 1906, to Keith, Erickson & Erickson.

What I claim as my invention is 1. An electrical transmission system comprising a plurality of heat-coils or thermostatic devices arranged in sections or divisions, the different sectionsor divisions being arranged in rows extending at rightangles to each other, so that each section or division is a member of two right-angle rows, a visual signal for each of the rows extending in one direction, a plurality of visual signals for each of the rows extending at right-angles to the other rows, said last-mentioned visual signals being arranged to indicate different levels or horizontal planes in which the said heat-coils or thermostatic devices are located, means for sup- Fplying current, and parallel circuits for each of said groups of visual signals controlled by the corresponding thermostatic devices.

2. In a telephone exchange system, automatic switches, a heat-coil or thermostatic device for each switch, said heat-coils or thermostatic devices arranged in sections or divisions, the different sections or divisions being arranged in rows extending at rightangles to each other, so that each section or division is a member of two right-angle rows, a visual signal for each of the rows extending in one direction, a plurality of visual signals for each of the rows extending at right-angles to the other rows, and connections whereby each signal is controlled by one or more of said thermostatic devices in the corresponding row.

3. In a telephone exchange system, automatic switches, a heat-coil or thermostatic device for each switch, said heat-coils or thermostatic devices arranged in sections or divisions, the different sections or divisions being arranged in rows extending at rightangles to each other, so that each section or division is a member of two right-angle rows, a signal at the end of each row extending in one direction, a signal at the end of each of the rows extending at rightangles to the other rows, and connections whereby each signal is controlled by one or more of said thermostatic devices in corresponding rows.

4. In a telephone system, automatic switches, a heat-coil or thermostatic device for each switch, said heat-coils or thermostatic devices arranged in sections or divisions, the different sections or divisions being arranged in rows extending at rightangles to each other, so that each section or division is a member of two right-angle rows, a visual signal for each of the rows extending in one direction, a plurality of visual signals for each of the rows extending at right-angles to the other rows, said last-mentioned visual signals being arranged to indicate different levels or horizontal planes in which the said heat-coils or thermostatic devices are located, and connections whereby each signal is controlled by one or more of said thermostatic devices in the corresponding row.

5. In a telephone system, automatic switches, a heat-coil or thermostatic device for each switch, said heat-coils or thermostatic devices arranged in sections or divisions, the different sections or divisions being disposed in rows extending at rightangles to each other, so that each section or division is a member of two right-angle rows, a visual signal for each of the rows extending in one direction, a visual signal for each of the rows extending at rightangles to the other rows, and circuits con trolled by said thermostatic devices for displaying the signal of each of the two rightangle rows in which any operated heat-coil or thermostatic device is located.

6. In a telephone system, switches idivided into main sections, minor sections and sub-minor sections, a battery, lines for operating said switches by current from said battery, a thermal cut-ofl' in the circuit of each switch, whereby if the operating circuit of the switch remains closed too long the cut-oif will open the circuit of the switch, a signal for each main section, another for each subminor section, each cut-oil provided with circuit controlling means for operating a signal of each of said sections, whereby when the cut-ofl' operates, the main section, the minor section and the sub-minor section of a switch and its cut-ofl' may be located and the switch restored.

7. In a switching system, electricaldevices arranged in a plurality of main sections in one direction, each section divided into an equal number of divisions, the similar divisions in the various main sections arranged in auxiliary sections and the divisions divided into an equal number of subdivisions, the similar subdivisions in the various divisions in an auxiliary section forming subdivision groups parallel with the auxiliary sections, a battery, lines for controlling said devices from said battery, a thermal cut-ofi' for each device, said cutofi' operable, if the line circuit remains closed too long, to render the device inoperative, a signal for indicating the main section, another signal for indicating the auxiliary section and the division, said signals controlled by said cut-ofi' to indicate the position, in the main section division and in the auxiliary section, of the device rendered inoperative.

Signed by Illinois, this th day of A ALEXANDE Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. SPERRY, 1 RAYMOND H. BURFEIND.

me at Chicago, Cook county,

ril, 1907.

E. KEITH.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,152,385, granted August 31, 1915, upon the application of Alexander E. Keith, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Systems of Supervision for the Apparatus of a Telephone or Other System, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 118-119, claim 3, for the words in corresponding rows read in the corresponding row; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of September, A. D., 1915.

J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Uommissioner of Patents.

Issac] 

